West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday appealed to migrant workers from the state to return home, assuring them that his government would provide employment opportunities within West Bengal and that there was no longer any need to migrate in search of work.
"I appeal to all migrant workers to come back. There will be ample employment opportunities for them here," Adhikari said while addressing the media in Jalpaiguri.
The Chief Minister made the remarks after distributing financial assistance to the families of 11 labourers from Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar who lost their lives in the recent NHPC Teesta Stage-VI tunnel tragedy in Sikkim.
Describing the current period as an "Amrit Kaal of development," Adhikari said employment generation in the state had improved significantly. He highlighted ongoing industrial and agricultural initiatives across North Bengal, including projects related to makhana cultivation in Malda, as well as the promotion of pineapple, maize and Tulaipanji rice in other districts.
The state government had earlier announced an ex gratia of ₹5 lakh for each bereaved family. Adhikari said all 11 families had now received the assistance.
He also announced employment support for the victims' families, stating that seven family members had been appointed as Home Guards, while the remaining four, who did not meet the eligibility criteria, would be engaged as Civic Volunteers.
According to the Chief Minister, each affected family would receive ₹21 lakh in total compensation from multiple sources, including ₹5 lakh from the West Bengal government, ₹4 lakh from the Sikkim government, ₹5 lakh from NHPC, ₹5 lakh from the construction company, and ₹2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund.
Responding to questions about the tunnel disaster, Adhikari said the investigation was being conducted by the Sikkim government.
"The Chief Minister of Sikkim is fully competent and is supervising the inquiry," he said.
He added that preliminary information suggested a hazardous gas leak inside the tunnel and noted that an immediate rescue attempt could have put rescuers' lives at risk.
Calling his visit a "humanitarian responsibility," Adhikari reiterated that workers from West Bengal no longer needed to leave the state in search of employment. He urged eligible workers to obtain job cards, saying the government had relaxed eligibility norms and was committed to providing up to 125 days of employment.
The Chief Minister also highlighted several welfare initiatives, including enhanced old-age and widow pensions, expanded Ayushman Bharat health coverage for nearly 40 lakh senior citizens in West Bengal, and a separate state health scheme for those not covered under the central programme.
He further announced additional support for farmers, saying beneficiaries of the PM-Kisan scheme would receive an extra ₹4,000 from the state government for agricultural activities.
